Oh, man. This is tough. Despite how much I enjoyed each story, I had to just stick with Annabelle's Alphabet. This story affected me deeply on several levels: the way it was told, the current of sadness and anger that ran just underneath the surface of Annabelle's life, and the fact that everything wasn't spelled out at the end. AA actually got better on the second listen and reflection, which in the end made it trump my high-esteemed second, Teddy Bears and Tea Parties.

internalogic wrote: Dinosaurs kicked ass on multiple levels.

I don't know. I enjoyed Dinosaurs, the title was pretty great, and it made me laugh out loud at one point, and yet...I don't know. Maybe I just have a bias for sad stories.

Chivalrybean wrote:To Norm: Thanks for shoving my back over here from Twitter. I had to recreate an old email to get my password recovered, so it wasn't easy {:0p

But of course! We're happy to have you back man.*jabs syringe into Chivalrybean's neck*

We're big fans of you round these parts, you know. And then you left for so long, and I mean, you COULD have kept in touch, left a COCKADOODIE NOTE but nooo, you just vanished and I was worried and-- *spills soup on Chivalrybean's half-conscious body* THERE, LOOK THERE, NOW SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!

Chivalrybean wrote:To Norm: Thanks for shoving my back over here from Twitter. I had to recreate an old email to get my password recovered, so it wasn't easy {:0p

But of course! We're happy to have you back man.*jabs syringe into Chivalrybean's neck*

We're big fans of you round these parts, you know. And then you left for so long, and I mean, you COULD have kept in touch, left a COCKADOODIE NOTE but nooo, you just vanished and I was worried and-- *spills soup on Chivalrybean's half-conscious body* THERE, LOOK THERE, NOW SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!

*smashes Chivalrybean's ankles with sledgehammer* God I love you.

Like Kathy Bates loves James Caan, apparently.

btw, where did the phrase "Old Bean" originate? I've wondered about that ever since Lex Luthor called Superman that in a comic book I read (oh so many years ago...)

I didn't look at the votes until after I voted. Didn't realize Clown eggs was the underdog thus far. Too bad, I'd love to see that one win. Perhaps it has to do with my sister's fear of clowns. They tend to really freak her out and well, that's just fun. Which ever one does win, they are great stories all around. I think my second choice has to be Dinosaurs. Good stuff.

Congratulations. That was one kick-ass Bbardle that went along with it too.

Also, big thumbs up to Absent-Minded Professor for Drabble of the year. Couldn't say that on the other post since someone locked the door and threw away the key. Loved Norm's Grumpy 'Ol Man, reading. A truly worthy winner.